Lea Kauppi Chair of the WG on Monitoring and Assessment of the Convention

1. Information as a basis for cooperation: the Assessments of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters in the UNECE Region Lea Kauppi Chair of the WG on Monitoring and Assessment of the Convention Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

4. The Water Convention Protection of transboundary waters by preventing, controlling and reducing transboundary impacts Promotion of cooperation Sustainable management Reasonable and equitable use  conflict prevention Conservation and restoration of ecosystems Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

5. Value of joint monitoring and shared information • A common understanding on the state of and pressures on transboundary waters is a prerequisite for developing joint management • Co-operation on monitoring is politically less ”sensitive” than management planning. Thus it provides a good starting point for further co-operation Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

6. 140 rivers 30 lakes 70 aquifers >150 experts 40 countries

7. Objectives • Serve as point of reference for Governments, IGOs, NGOs to improve management and status of waters • Highlight achievements in IWRM at transboundary level • Develop knowledge and understanding for further action • Identify situations of water crisis • Provide guidance for strategic investments Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

8. Major findings of the first assessment • Action to decrease water pollution from point sources (municipal sewage treatment; old industrial installations) is of primary importance in basins in EECCA and SEE • Pollution from diffuse sources (e.g. agriculture, urban areas) is of high importance for action in basins in Western and Central Europe Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

9. Major findings of the first assessment • The effects of climate change became visible in almost all of the analysed river basins • In transboundary river basins, water sharing among countries in the same basins is often a major water-quantity issue, and continues to cause upstream-downstream conflicts Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

10. Major findings of the first assessment • In transboundary aquifers, increasing abstraction for agricultural purposes and drinking water supply is often a major water-quantity issue, and in some cases leads to overuse. • Eutrophication is the worst phenomenon affecting transboundary lakes. It is increasing constantly except in areas where wastewater treatment has been effectively implemented and where small improvements are visible Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

11. Major findings of the first assessment • Plans for integrated water resources management still need to be developed for almost all basins. • Proper attention should be devoted to land-use planning and the joint management of surface waters and groundwaters Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

12. Challenge in SEE: major conflict and political change in the last 15 years; aquifers and groundwaters now shared between new countries. Various pressures:Agriculture, industry, sewage and waste disposal, mining, solid waste disposal, tourism Quantity and quality status good, which may reflect suppression of pressure factors by e.g. the regional political situation Clear need for bilateral agreements Transboundary groundwaters in South-Eastern Europe Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

13. 48 Alluvial- Sedimentary 32 47 49 9 10 11 8 12 13 7 1 4 3 6 14 . Alluvial aquifers in the densely populated lowlands Subject to more demands, quantity and quality pressures, agriculture impacts 33 2 5 17 15 16 31 51 50 18 30 34 19 29 20 21 23 28 27 22 26 Karstic aquifers recharge in mountainous areas • Subject to rather few pressures from human activities, but highly vulnerable 24 46 Karst 45 25 44 35 36 41 40 39 43 42 37 38 51 transboundary aquifers covered

14. River Oder : evolving impacts of dense population and industrial history Dense population and heavy industry Agriculture, fishery and tourism also among the pressure factors Concerns: Significant pollution loads released to the Baltic Sea; eutrophication;hygienic problems; polluted sediments (heavy metals, PAH and PCB compounds) Structural changes in industry and agriculture, contribute to improving water quality, but on the other hand inccrease pressure

15. Central Asia: shrinking lake Balkhash, fed principally by Ili river pressure factors include agriculture (animal farms, irrigated farming – in China some 600 million ha irrigated), mining, industry, and urbanization – resulting in pollution in both China and Kazakhstan Trends: ever-growing water use, threat of growing pressure on water resources due to increasing economic activities in China – fate may be similar to that of the Aral Sea Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

16. Second assessment under preparation • Geographically specific attention will be paid to the EECCA region • Strengthening the integrated river basin approach, e.g. the role of wetland protection Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

17. Second assessment under preparation • Thematically more focus on: • the status of institutional arrangements of co-operation • Water quantity issues and impacts of climate change • Groundwaters • Health aspects Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes

18. Second assessment under preparation • National experts play a crucial role, the secretariat coordinates the work • Regional workshops are an important part of the preparatory process • To be published in the next EfE Ministerial Conference in 2011 in Astana Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes